Wonderful; Counselor | Pastor Joakim Lundqvist

All right, Gway family. Oh, praise God. So good to be back in the house that we love so much. And uh every time we come, Maria and I just so excited to be with you. Even this morning that you all call cold, we're super excited to be here.

And I hope we we hope you had a great Thanksgiving. You know, Maria and I are still kind of working in the tradition of Thanksgiving into our lives because being Europeans, we don't have it automatically. Obviously, Thanksgiving is an American holiday to celebrate that you all broke free from well, us basically.

So, good for you all. Good for you all. But now, as we know, Thanksgiving is in the bag. And now we start to look ahead toward Christmas. And worldwide, this weekend actually is referred to as the first of Advent, the first of the four weekends leading up to Christmas when we celebrate and marvel at the thought of Christ being born and our salvation uh our savior and our Lord being born into this earth in the town of Bethlehem 2,000 years ago.

So, what I want to do here as we start this brand new series called His Name Will Be called, which is really an Old Testament prophecy about Jesus. Uh, one of the messianic prophecies and and we're going to look at that for for the upcoming weekends. But what I want to do here today is basically just build a foundation with y'all and teach you about how we see and recognize and perceive Christ in the Old Testament because he's present throughout the Old Testament.

Every single book points toward his coming. But before we get into the word of God, let's just pray for the Holy Spirit to be with us. Lord, we thank you so much and may we never take the presence of the Holy Spirit for granted. We pray that you will touch our eyes so we can see, touch our ears so we can hear, and open our hearts so we can understand and receive everything you want to teach us today.

We pray in Jesus name. Amen. >> All right. Would you open your Bible please to John chapter 1 and verse one? And that's where we're going to start out our journey. This is more like a Bible study that we're doing today. I actually have a teaching series of 15 sessions about Jesus in the Old Testament.

So, I'm just going to squeeze them all into one message right here. John chapter 1 and verse one. It says, "In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God." Now, if you would read all the way down to verse 14, you will read that the word became flesh and dwelt among us.

So we know that the word being referred to here is not just any spoken word but the living word Jesus Christ himself. And please note that it says the word was in the beginning. See here is where many Christians go wrong because they think that Jesus existence started 2,000 years ago in a manger in Bethlehem.

But Jesus as the part of the Godhead Trinity is from the beginning. He was there at the beginning of time just like the father and the spirit was. Jesus has been present all throughout the Old Testament. And he actually refers to this as well in John chapter 8.

The oh I love this conversation. John chapter 8 con contains a moment here where Jesus is being questioned by some Jewish scribes and Pharisees and as he is he responds in verse 56 John 50 John John 8:56 and he says your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day and he saw it and was glad.

Then the Jews said to him, "You're not yet 50 years old, and have you seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly I say to you, before Abraham was, I am." >> Which is pretty much the best answer in the history of ever. Before Abraham was, I am.

And again, he's underlining that he did not start to exist 30 years ago at this point. He is from the beginning. In the Nyian creed, we confess Jesus was born of the father before all time. And that means that even though we see the father moving in the old testament and we see the spirit moving in the old testament, Jesus also is moving and is visible in the old testament.

And so how do we see Jesus in the old testament? How do we recognize and perceive him in the Old Testament? Great question. I was just getting to that. Three ways. Three ways for your notes. Number one, the first way that we see and understand and perceive and recognize Jesus in the Old Testament is through what I called image prophecies.

Image prophecies. Now the way we define image prophecies is basically this Old Testament people who are experiencing and going through things that we later understand points to Christ. Old Testament people that are experiencing and going through things that we later understand points to Christ. Now, they would not have known at the time because they didn't know the details of Christ appearing in 2,000 years ago.

So, for them, it didn't make much s much sense. But for us, all these image prophecies throughout the Old Testament are like trailers. God is like releasing trailers with sneak peeks pointing to the main movie that was released 2,000 years ago, which is the life of Jesus. And we see these image prophecies throughout the Old Testament.

We see them in people and we see them in events like the person of David for example. He was a shepherd from Bethlehem who became a great king. Hello. >> In which prophecy we even see that in in the miracles of the prophet Elijah. You know, Elisha performed 16 miracles that were documented all over the Old Testament.

And each one of those 16 miracles would actually relate to one miracle that Jesus performed in the four gospels. All 16 of them has reference points to a miracle that Jesus performs. Again, that's God releasing a new sneak peek trailer of what is about to come. One of the most powerful image prophecy stories though is the life story of Joseph as we read it in Genesis chapter 37 to chapter 45.

It's a long story about Joseph and so many reference points to Jesus. He was the special beloved son of his father. His father gave him a very special robe. Now the robe always represents the anointing. But then he was betrayed and and attacked by his own and they threw him in a deep pit.

In the apostolic creed we confess he descended into hell and then he was sold to Egypt. He came among the heathens and eventually Joseph was raised to fame and recognition among the Gentiles way before he was recognized by his own people, the Jewish people. And that's exactly where we are today.

However, the last chapter of this story, Genesis 45, contains an image prophecy that has not yet been fulfilled even to this day, but it will be one day. That's the moment when Jesus, oh sorry, Joseph takes off his Egyptian garment and he introduces himself to his brothers, the 12 tribes of Israel representing the Jewish people.

And he says, "I am Joseph, your brother." And for the first time, they recognize him and they reunite and redemption comes to Israel. The Bible says one day all Israel will see him and all Israel will be saved. Glory to the name of Jesus. I got goosebumps on my goosebumps right now.

But among all the image prophecies in the Old Testament, maybe the most powerful one, the most special and unique one is the story of Abraham and Isaac. And as we read it now in Genesis 22, I want you to try to put yourself in Abraham's shoes for just a second because the commandment that he's given at this point would have been made zero sense at all because he wasn't aware that God was really painting a picture, recording a trailer for the main movie.

But in verse two of Genesis 22, God says, "Take your son, your only son whom you love, Isaac, and go to the region of Mariah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain. I will show you what in the world God has never required human sacrifice, nor will he ever require human sacrifice."

But still, the commandment comes to Abraham to sacrifice his own beloved son. And he can't just do it there. He has to travel to Mariah. That was a three-day journey. He has to come to Mount Mariah very specifically. And Abraham reluctantly obeys and he sets out on the journey together with Isaac.

They ends up they end up on the mountain of Mariah. Little did he know that on the mountain of Mariah there is a small hill that would later be called Calvary. And he gets ready to sacrifice his own son, not understanding why he needs to do this. But right at the last moment, God stops him and says, "No, you don't have to go through with it."

And we read again from verse 13. Abraham looked up and there in the thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place the Lord will provide Jehovah Gyra.

And to this day it is said on the mountain of the Lord it will be provided. >> On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided. 2,100 years before Jesus dies on the cross on Mount Calvary, it had been said on that mountain, it will be provided.

What will be provided? Salvation, redemption, reunion with God, forgiveness of sins, and eternal life. Can we be grateful in the house of the Lord? Praise God. And let me tell you this. When you see our God preparing Jesus's death on Calvary 2,100 years in advance, I can tell you this, you are 100% safe placing your life in the hand of such a God. >> Cuz he does not improvise.

He doesn't change his mind every five seconds. He has a plan. And even if that plan takes hundreds of years to accomplish, it will be accomplished. He has a dream and even if that dream takes thousands of years to be fulfilled, it will be fulfilled. And Gateway, let me tell you, he's got a plan for your life.

He's got a dream for you and that dream will come to pass no matter what. Thanks be to God Almighty. So that's image prophecies. But we also see Jesus and recognize Jesus in the Old Testament through apparitions. Apparitions are the times in the Old Testament where we can assume even though we cannot know 100% that Jesus is actually appearing physically in the Old Testament.

And why wouldn't he? If he was around, which he was, it's likely and is natural for him to actually appear at some points. Again, we can't say for sure because never in the Old Testament does he introduce himself by the name of Jesus. But there are some some things there in some places where we can assume and be quite certain that this person appearing is not just another angel.

It's actually the Lord Jesus, the second person of the Trinity. And one of the most famous stories, one of the most well-known stories about Jesus possibly appearing is the story of the fourth man in the fire. The fourth man in the fire. Daniel chapter 3. The backstory is this.

We have three young Jewish men, Shadrach, Mach, and Abednego. They're all in exile in Babylon. And they're forced to fall down to worship an idol. And if they refuse, they will be thrown in a fiery furnace for punishment. and they refuse. They will not bow down to any other god but the God of Israel.

And they are thrown into the fiery furnace. Still, when the king Nebuchadnezzar looks into the fire, he says, this is Daniel 3:25, I see four men loose walking in the midst of the fire and they are not hurt. And the fourth form of the fourth is like the son of God. son with a capital S.

Praise God. And I can totally see this being Jesus. I can see Christ sitting on the right hand side of the father looking down on the three young Jewish men completely determined to only praise and worship the Lord God Jehovah. And then being thrown into the fiery furnace and I can see Jesus turning to the father and said, "Father, I just have to go down and hang out with these three guys."

And then he steps in and he walks with them and they are loose. And if you would read the whole story as they come out, it says they don't didn't even smell of smoke. And what we learn from this is this. Jesus has not promised you to not walk through fire.

We will walk through fire. But when we do, he is with us. And when we come out, there will not even be the smell of smoke on us. Praise God. Let me tell you, 18 months ago, this church went through fire. But when I came into this building today, I didn't even fel feel the smell of smoke. >> Just the glory of the Lord and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

ALL GLORY TO THE NAME of Jesus for his faithfulness. Still there is one possible apparition where I'm even more convinced that the person appearing is actually Jesus Christ himself. So let me take you there. This is found in Joshua chapter 5. Joshua chapter 5. The content states that the children of Israel have just entered into the promised land after the long journey back from slavery in Egypt.

Moses is dead. The new leader of Israel is Joshua. And they're just coming up toward Jericho, the first fortified city that they need to conquer. And right before they're going to march on Jericho, something special happens. Joshua 5:13 says, "And it came to pass when Joshua was by Jericho that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a man stood opposite him with his sworn drone in his hand.

And Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us or for our adversaries?" So he said, "No." Which is also a brilliant answer. Hey, are you for us or for them? No. But as the commander of the army of the Lord, I have now come.

And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, "What does my lord say to his servant?" Then the commander of the Lord's army said to Joshua, "Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy." And Joshua did so.

Now, how can we know that this is not just an angel, a mighty angel like Michael or Gabriel appearing? Well, there's one element that tells us it couldn't have been because no angel would ever receive worship. No angel would ever accept to be worshiped because one angel once desired worship.

His name was Lucifer >> and that didn't end well at all. And I think the rumor has spread among the angels. Let's be very very careful from now on not to draw any worship or any attention toward ourselves. Actually, let me take you to a just really quickly to a verse that shows us the natural normal angelic response to being given worship.

We found that in the very last chapter of the Bible, Revelation 22. Revelation 22:8. This is right at the end of the whole revelation that John has received. And he writes as part of his final words, I John am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me.

But he said to me, "Don't do that." exclamation mark. This is quite intense. Said, "Dear Lord, did anyone see that? Don't do the group. I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God >> and God alone.

However, back in Joshua 5, the commander of the army of the Lord not only receives worship, but he actually emphasizes worship, saying, "Yeah, that's good. Now take your sandals off as well. This is holy ground." And if that is Jesus, which I think it is, what a beautiful moment right there because Joshua in the Old Testament and Jesus in the New carry the same name.

So we have Old Testament Joshua encountering New Testament Joshua. And just before Old Testament Joshua is about to lead the people of God into a physical promised land. Really reflecting the fact that the New Testament Joshua Jesus would lead God's people into a spiritual promised land. The two have a moment together and this young man, Old Testament Joshua, is allowed to just breathe in the strength and the presence of God himself be before he starts out fulfilling his calling.

Isn't God so good? >> Praise God. The third way that we see and recognize and perceive Jesus in the Old Testament after image prophecies and apparitions is spoken prophecies. And this is where we approach the prophecy that will be guiding us throughout December. Isaiah chapter 9, his name will be called.

There are so many spoken prophecies in the Old Testament. The first one actually spoken just minutes after the fall of mankind. Adam and Eve have broken God's commandment and God has to speak judgment on them and then he turns to the serpent to Satan and he speaks to the serpent and as he does he's actually given the very first prophecy spoken prophecy of the coming savior the Messiah Jesus Christ.

He said, "The seed of the woman will crush your head." >> The seed of the woman will crush your head. Please know, God did not have to step aside for a few centuries and come up with a new plan. He didn't have to go, "Oh no, I didn't see this coming.

Now what do I do?" But the same second the disaster has happened, God already has a way out. Whatever happens in your life, whatever fire you might be going through, always remember God has a way. God has a way. God has a way. It's just a matter of finding it and seeing it and bowing down to him and let him have his way in your situation.

Amen. Amen. >> We have other spoken prophecies like David's words in Psalms 22 where he writes, "They have pierced my hands and feet." They have pierced my hands and feet. Please note, friends, David wrote this centuries before crucifixion was even invented. He wouldn't have had a clue what he was writing.

But still, the spirit urged him, just write it. But what what is this all about? What do you mean piercing hands and feet? You will understand later in heaven. And he writes it and we have a beautiful spoken prophecy, a little trailer, a sneak peek of the official movie that will come out way, way, way later because it was all in God's hands, all in God's plan.

We have Isaiah 53, the suffering servant of the Lord, and so many others. But the one I want to draw your attention to because I love this one so much even though it's lesser known and rarely preached is found in the book of Numbers chapter 24. Numbers 24.

And this actually this prophecy actually has a great connection to the season to Christmas. Now, the backstory of this event that we're going to read about in the book of Numbers, uh, for you to understand it, let's just put up a map, shall we, of the journey of the people of Israel from Egypt, from the captivity in Egypt up until the promised land.

So, we see they set out from Egypt, the great Exodus. They're walking through the Red Sea on dry land, the most powerful miracle in the Old Testament. But then they come into Sinai and here's where things take a turn for the worst. Because the people of God started spending more time complaining about what they didn't have than being grateful for what they did have.

I'm going to take that again because I heard good things coming out of my mouth right there. The people of God started spending more time complaining about what they didn't have than being grateful for what they did have. And after a while, God just got sick and tired of it.

And he said, "Okay, you know what? I'm just going to hold on for one generation. I'm going to let this grumpy generation die in the desert, and I'm just going to wait until a new generation rises up that will choose faith over fear and grumpiness." and then my plans will be fulfilled.

And eventually that happens after 40 years and the children of Israel set out for the promised land. Now, as they do, please note they pass through the southern tip of present day Israel. And they come up in the land of Moab, which is east of Israel, and they walk through Moab, and then they enter into the promised land from the east, passing the river Jordan and coming up against Jericho.

Now, as the people of Israel walk through um uh Moab, the king of Moab freaks out, and rightfully so, because we're talking about between one and three million people walking through his land, and rumor has it that God is on their side. And the king of Moab will what would happen if they turn on me?

If they turn on us? So, what he does, ah, this is so pathetic. He pays a guy called Balam to speak curses over Israel. Like that would make any difference whatsoever. So he pays this guy called Ba, which was a real character. By the way, Balam claims to know the God of Israel, but he's also worshiping other gods.

So he's really an idol worshipper. And he receives payment to curse the children of Israel. So he Bam sets out aiming to curse the children of Israel. But as he opens his mouth, only blessings come out. And the king of Moab freaks out even more now. Said, "Hey, come on, man.

I paid you to speak curses." And Balam goes, "Oh, sorry, man. I don't know what happened there. I'll try again." So he prophesies a second time, aiming to curse, but only blessings come out of his mouth. He tries a third time to curse. Only blessings come out of his mouth.

You know why? Because you can curse whatever God has blessed. >> If God has spoken his blessing, no man is going to be able to remove that blessing. Praise God. >> I heard this testimony from a German woman a couple of years back. She used to be a witch and quite high up in the like witch hierarchy, however that works.

But then she got radically saved. her life was turned around by Jesus. And now as she gave her testimony, she actually retold when she was a witch and and she was like in witch school and she was being trained to be a witch and they were training her and the other witches to be on how to cast spells and throw curses and stuff.

They actually said, their teachers actually said, never ever cast a spell or throw a curse on a Christian who is strong and secure in her or his faith >> because the curse will bounce off of them and will bounce back on you. I thought to myself, if I would have been in that room, I would have started think maybe I'm connected to the wrong God here.

You know, it seems there is a higher power for me to connect with. But anyway, Balam tries three times and he he can't curse what God has blessed and then finally sets out a fourth time. This time, not only does he speak blessing upon Israel, but he actually speaks out a prophecy about the coming Savior.

How God is this? Numbers 24 verse17. I see him but not now. I behold him but not near. A star shall come out of Jacob. A scepter shall rise out of Israel and batter the brow of Moab and destroy all the sons of Tumult. This, my friends, is the only messianic prophecy ever to be spoken east of Israel.

This is important. The only messianic prophecy to be spoken east of Israel. And he connects the coming of the Messiah with a rising star. Now, we fast forward 1,500 years. A child is born and put in a manger in the town of Bethlehem. That night, angels sing praises over the slopes of Bethlehem and shepherds come to worship this baby boy that is born.

A little while later, some men appear from the east. We refer to them as the wise men. And in Sweden, we always say this is why Jesus could not have been born in Norway because there were not wise men available. And they come to Jerusalem and they start asking around and what do they say?

Matthew 2:2, where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east and will and have come to worship him. Now, a lot of people think that these guys were motivated by astrology and horoscope. They weren't. They were motivated by a messianic spoken prophecy 1500 years earlier that had resounded for 1500 years.

The Messiah will come as a star will rise. All of a sudden, they saw it and they came to worship. By the way, if you're a Christian, don't even go near astrology and horoscope. Don't even play with that. That's the teaching of demons right there. >> And it's all there to keep people mentally in hostage because they think that their destiny is written in the stars and the planets which is a lie from hell. >> It is.

Our destiny is in the hands of the Lord God Almighty. Seriously, every time someone asks me, "Hey dude, what you know what's your sign? what sign are you born in? I always respond, I'm born in the sign of the cross. That's the only sign that has any effect on my life.

I'll tell you that. So, these two groups of people are the two first to worship. The shepherds and the wise men. Why? Again, God does not improvise. There is always a plan. There is always a purpose. There is always a picture that he paints, a prophetic picture. So why these two groups?

Let me close with that. The shepherds represents the poor, the low, the humble people. The wise men represents the powerful, the rich, and the mighty. This child would be king of both of them, and of anyone in between. But even more profound than that, the shepherds were Jews, and the wise men were Gentiles.

This child would not only be king of the Jews, he would be the savior of the world. God leaves nothing to chance. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, mighty God, everlasting father, prince of peace.

This is the prophecy we will dive into in weeks to come. I just want to focus your attention on that first name. His name will be called wonderful. We serve a God whose name is wonderful. And wonderful does not just mean awesome and amazing. Wonderful lit literally means full of wonder. >> Full of wonders and miracles.

And whatever wonder or miracle you might need today, he is wonderful. He is full of wonders. He's full of miracles. Counselor. Why counselor? Because he knows you and he empathizes with you and he has compassion with you. Hebrews 4 says, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weakness, but we have one who has been tempted in every way just as we are.

Yet he did not sin." Those are the first two words of this prophecy. Wonderful. He has a wonder for you whatever your need is. And counselor, he knows you. He understands you. And he loves you. Can I have every eye closed and every head bowed just for the final few minutes of our time together?

Lord, here we are in gratitude and thanksgiving in awe of how you set everything up in the Old Testament to culminate in the New. Thank you, Father, for pointing to Jesus all the way through the Old Testament so we can stand here today in awe and wonder. And thank you for naming yourself wonderful, full of wonders.

I pray Lord in Jesus name for every single need represented in this house today. I know there's a wonder, there is a miracle that matches every single need because you're full of wonders. Thank you for being our counselor, the one who understands us and knows us more than anything anyone and that still you love us more than anyone.

I pray for your saving grace to be released right now in Jesus name. I want to give you an invitation if you're here today and you know in your heart that you're not right with God. Maybe you've never ever accepted Christ. Maybe you came with a family member.

This is your first time in this church or maybe in a church. Jesus is standing here. That wonderful counselor stand here with his arms open wide inviting you to come to him and to have the forgiveness of sins, the redemption that he died for, the salvation that his heart aches to give you.

Maybe you had that once, but you don't have it anymore if you're honest with your heart. Maybe you need to commit your life to Jesus or recommmit your life to Jesus. Please, I beg you, take this opportunity that this moment provides. if this is you because you don't know if the opportunity will come again.

If you would like me to include you in a prayer to accept Jesus or come back to a relationship with Jesus that you somehow have lost, would you just lift up your hand right now? Wherever you sit in this building, there are hands going up all over the place.

If your hand needs to be among those raised already, then please don't hesitate. Take this moment that the Lord himself provides an opportunity for you to come back into the family of God or you to enter it for the first time. I want to pray this prayer. We can all repeat this prayer after me.

But if you're praying it for the first time because you raised your hand or some of of you still have it raised, then dare to believe this. dare to pray this prayer from the bottom of your heart and dare to believe that as you do, God will listen and God will come into your heart and make all things new.

Let's pray. Dear Jesus, thank you for loving me. Thank you for dying for my sins, taking my place so that I would go free today. Jesus, I receive you. I accept you. I proclaim you as my Lord and I leave my old life behind >> to follow you, love you and serve you for the rest of my life.

I pray this in Jesus name. >> Amen. >> Amen. Let's welcome all of our new brothers and sisters into the family of God.